Irish eyes are smiling

This year’s Six Nations tournament ended on a high as two well-match teams locked horns in a brutal encounter in Cardiff last night.

International sides from the northern hemisphere may lack the flair of their southern counterparts, but the sheer intensity can at times be absorbing.

The Welsh and Irish teams both left nothing behind during a ferocious battle where every breakdown and every tackle area became a tooth and nail scrap.

It was not a classic in terms of free-flowing, attractive rugby but for passion and sheer drama alone it will go down into the annals of Six Nations history.

In games such as this one, where the margins are so tight and the stakes are so high, you look to your leaders and nobody grasped the occasion more than Ireland’s golden boy Brian O’Driscoll.

Ronan O’Gara may have sealed the win with his late drop goal, but it was O’Driscoll who led the second half comeback and – just like against England – was ultimately the difference between the two sides.

It is the mark of a true sporting champion when they seize the biggest stage and the crucial moments and find an extra edge to their already frighteningly high levels of performance.

Think Steven Gerrard against AC Milan in Istanbul, David Beckham against Greece, Steven Redgrave and Matthew Pinsent in Sydney, Jonny Wilkinson in the 2003 World Cup.

When the biggest questions have been asked, these champions have bent the occasion to their will and inspired their team to victory.

For O’Driscoll, so long the darling of Irish rugby, his mighty impact on this year’s tournament and key role in his side’s historic campaign is all the sweeter after a disappointing year last year.

It is also an extremely timely boost ahead of this summer’s Lions tour to South Africa, where he surely be a vital part of the tourists’ squad and could even go as captain – which would be a fine way to make up for his heartbreaking tour to New Zealand four years ago.

In his interview at the end of the game O’Driscoll, with typical modesty, was quick to praise the efforts of his teammates and there were several other notable performers among the men in green.

Paul O’Connell, another Lions captaincy candidate, was an immense rallying point up front and is the closest player to Martin Johnson to have graced the game since the current England boss retired.

The outstanding David Wallace outfought his opposite number Martyn Williams with his sheer athleticism and was relentless in defence.

For the Welsh, it was harsh to see their best player Stephen Jones miss the crucial kick that could have handed them victory.

Ironically though, Jones’ otherwise faultless kicking and assured display could see him selected ahead of man-of-the-moment O’Gara when it comes down to Lions’ test team selection.

Looking ahead to South Africa it will be fascinating to see all the players that have clashed so fiercely throughout this tournament lining up together in the same squad and we can only hope they can reproduce the same intensity against the Springboks.

My Lions starting XV

15. Lee Byrne (Wales)
14. Tommy Bowe (Ireland)
13. Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland)
12. Riki Flutey (England)
11. Shane Williams (Wales)
10. Stephen Jones (Wales)
9. Mike Phillips (Wales)
1. Andrew Sheridan (England)
2. Jerry Flannery (Ireland)
3. Euan Murray (Scotland)
4. Paul O’Connell (Ireland, capt)
5. Alun-Wyn Jones (Wales)
6. James Haskell (England)
7. David Wallace (Ireland)
8. Jamie Heaslip (Ireland)